Kisan Diwas or National Farmers’ Day

Context

• National Farmers’ Day, or Kisan Diwas, is celebrated across the country on December 23 to honour India’s farmers and mark the birth anniversary of the nation’s fifth Prime Minister, Choudhary Charan Singh.

Why is December 23 celebrated as National Farmers’ Day?

• In 2001, the government decided to recognise Choudhary Charan Singh’s contribution to the agriculture sector and welfare of farmers by celebrating his birth anniversary as Kisan Diwas.
• Generally, awareness campaigns and drives are organised across the country to educate people on the role of farmers and their contribution to the economy.

How Chaudhary Charan Singh is connected with farmers?

• Chaudhary Charan Singh, briefly served as prime minister between 1979 and 1980, is widely regarded as one of the country’s most famous peasant leaders.
• He was known for his pioneering work to promote the welfare of farmers and the agricultural sector.
• He was behind several major farmer-forward Bills, including the Land Utilisation Bill of 1939 and the Debt Redemption Bill in 1939.
• While serving as agriculture minister in 1952, he led UP in its efforts to abolish the zamindari system.

How it become different this year?

• This year, Kisan Diwas takes place against the backdrop of intensifying farmers’ protests on the borders of the national capital against the three agri laws.
  • The new farm laws provide for a system that allows traders to purchase agriculture produce of farmers outside the APMC mandis.
• The protesting farmers have an apprehension that the new mechanism would dismantle the MSP-APMC system that offers them an assured price for agriculture produce.
• They are demanding a complete rollback of the three farm laws.